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Vilmanis Makes History With Four Goals for Checkers
13 Apr
Summary
- Sandis Vilmanis scored four goals, a franchise first for the Checkers.
- Vilmanis represented Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- He made his NHL debut in January, scoring three goals and two assists.
Sandis Vilmanis, a promising prospect within the Florida Panthers organization, achieved a historic milestone on Sunday. Playing for the Charlotte Checkers, Florida's AHL affiliate, Vilmanis netted an incredible four goals during their decisive 6-1 win against the Hershey Bears at Bojangles Coliseum. This performance is unprecedented in Checkers franchise history, making Vilmanis the first player to score four goals in a single game.
Selected by Florida in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Vilmanis is now in his second professional season. He recently represented his native Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. Additionally, Vilmanis made his NHL debut in January, contributing three goals and two assists across 19 games with the Panthers.
Remarkably, this is not Vilmanis's first four-goal game since moving to North America; he also achieved this feat with the OHL's North Bay Battalion in 2024. At just 22 years old, his performance has garnered significant attention, earning him the trust of his coaches. He is now being considered a potential candidate for Florida's NHL roster next season.
